Satur Ocampo's group cited the younger Marcos’ conviction for violating the National Internal Revenue Code, which has a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office and participation in any election.
DESPITE being consistently on top of pre-election surveys, presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. is finding that the road to Malacanang Palace is thorny and full obstacles.
And if not parried well, those humps and bumps could eventually derail his ascendancy to the coveted chief executive post.
With everything being thrown his way that includes even the proverbial kitchen sink, another nullification petition was filed against him at the Commission on Elections Wednesday (November 17).
The latest group seeking to thwart Marcos, Jr.'s' bid for the nation's highest office includes former Bayan Muna Party-List Representative Saturnino “Satur” Ocampo and Gabriela Women’s Party-List Liza Maza.
Their 59-page petition cited the threat of Marcos’s candidacy on the reparations for the victims of the dictatorship of his later father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
Marcos's candidacy was seen by critics and victims of Martial Law abuses as an attempt to recoup the family's fortunes more than two decades after they were forced out of power during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, as well as an attempt to cover up the billions of pesos they allegedly stole from the national government.
In their complaint, Ocampo's group cited the younger Marcos’ conviction for violating the National Internal Revenue Code, which it claims has a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office and participation in any election.
The group also cited Marcos’ claim in the certificate of candidacy (COC) he filed before the Comelec last month that he was not convicted of any crime with a sanction of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“This material misrepresentation is more than sufficient ground for the Honorable Commission to cancel respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr.‘s certificate of candidacy, or to deny due course to the same. Or, in the alternative, disqualify the respondent convicted candidate Marcos, Jr. ‘s from holding public office,” the petition said.
Aside from Ocampo and Maza, the other petitioners are Bonifacio Parabuac Ilagan, Maria Carolina Pagaduan Araullo, Trinidad Gerlita Repuno, Joanna Kintanar Cariño, Elisa Tita Perez Lubi, Liza Maza, and Danilo Mallari Dela Fuente.
They are also joined by Carmencita Mendoza Florentino, Doroteo Cubacuba Abaya Jr., Erlinda Nable Senturias, Sr. Arabella Cammagay Balingao, Sr. Cherry Ibardaloza, Sr. Susan Santos Esmile, Homar Rubert Roca Distajo, Polynne Espineda Dira, James Carwyn Candila, and Jonas Angelo Lopena Abadilla.
Marcos is currently facing two other petitions before Comelec for cancellation or denial of due course of his COC also for the same grounds cited by the latest petition against him.
The first of the two earlier filed petitions is set to undergo preconference meeting before the Comelec Second Division next week.
(With report from Business Mirror)
Tags: #2022Elections, #presidentialrace, #BongbongMarcos, #CommissiononElections, #disqualification